The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-06

me. The advance guard was about the
same distance from me as were the Indians,
but coming at walk yelled TO them at
the top of my voice:
"Gallop--chargei- as you GOMEZ"
They obeyed on the instant, and after
them came that part of the column that was
ahead of the wagons. | stood with both
revolvers ready, but seeing the force that
was at hand, the Indians pulled short up,
turned, and rode off.
My poor Lieutenant! He lay on his back
with one of their devilish arrows driven
through his breast | knelt down beside
him and saw that he was Just dying. He
motioned IN 10 put my ear to his lips, and
this is what he said:
"The Major will tell you. o, my poor
mother"
Brave and tender soul-true to duty and
to filial love TO the last.
We halted on the spot where he died,
and remained there that day and the next.
| consulted with the Major, and we
agreed that for the present he must be
buried there. We made a rude coffin, dug
his grave under stately live-oak and laid
him in it. The Ma or read the burial
service. and / had three volleys fired over
him. Peace TO the ashes of as brave SOL
der as ever wore the blue.
After the funeral the Major took me
aside, with face full of anxiety.
Il suppose, Sergeant" he said, that
poor George told you about me?"
"No, sir; he did not He was just about
to tell me, when he was killed"
"Well, you must know. l need not tell
you to keep it to yourself. i am Major
Richmond, an army paymaster. My er-
rand up ut the fort is 10 pay the troops
there some long arrears. In that ambu-
lance are two boxes, each of which con-
tains ut this moment ten thousand dol
lars. This escorts real business is to
protect that money. The death of the
Lieutenant puts the whole burden on YOU.
i am paymaster, and nothing else.
Though | have relative rank, | never had
a command, and hardly know one end of n
carbine from the other. But | have the
utmost confidence in you, Sergeant; l know
George had, and I've watched you myself.
l know you'll do your best"
| was completely overwhelmed by this
intelligence, but l managed to thank the
Major and tell him that / had neither
parents, wife, nor child-that the military
service of the United States was my sweet
heart, and that | would die before l know
ingly failed in my duty.
While we renamed at this camp, | hard
~ slept, and ut the end OF the next days
march. although wearied in body, was so
oppressed by the sense of my great respon-
siblity that / was still unable to sleep.
Late at night after visiting the pckets and
cautioning them to be vigilant, / was doZ-
ing by the fire, starting up at every noise,
when | heard low voice near by.
Hist. Sergeant"
what is it,"
Don't speak loud come this way-here,
by the wagon. l am Alfred West"
I hot cin
versation with the boy soldier on the steam
boat he had been so prompt and ready about
his duty that he had attracted the attention
of Lieutenant Wilson, who, on my recon-
mendation, had made him acting. or, as we
say, lance corporal. AS such he was at the
head of the advance guard which charged
up so promptly and saved me from the
ApacheS Mt the time of the Lieutenants
death. Recognizing his voice, nov quick
ly walked over to where he STOOD and
there, concealed by the shadow of the wag
on, and talking III whisper, he gave me
the most startling intelligence. To repeat
all of our conversation here would extend
my story beyond all bounds; il will be suifi-
cient for me to tell the substance of it.
II appeared that the secret of the paw
masters treasure in the ambulance had
been discovered by some of the men on the
day we left the steamboat. Since then,
under the management of the Swede and
the Texan, plot had been formed TO mu-
tiny seize the treasure. divide it, and turn
back to the nearest settlements, where the
whole command would scatter and desert.
The ringleaders of this conspiracy had
been very skillful and cautious in develop
ing it, and Alfred thought that all the odd
soldiers" were committed 10 it. Some of
the recruits had hesitated, but had been
overcome by threats and persuasions, and
all had promised that at least they would
be silent, and not obstruct the execution Of
the plot The death of the Lieutenant had
precipitated matters, the Swede assuring